'This walking pad has helped me exceed my daily step count this winter'
Remember that campaign designed — with good intentions I'm sure — to get us all moving a bit more? The one that claimed sitting is the new smoking? While scare tactics were definitely at play, those well-meaning fear mongers were onto something. Namely, that our ever-increasingly sedentary lives spell bad news for our overall health and fitness.
Once we realised the devastating effects of prolonged sitting — weakened muscles, poor posture, increased risk of heart disease and limited NEAT among them — product designers started searching for ways to get us on our feet.
Standing desks served as, well, a bit of a stand-in, but after long periods standing, feet become weary and most tend to end up leaning — either on the desk itself or on a favoured hip, possibly exacerbating any existing postural issues.
Which is where walking pads, or under desk treadmills, come in. Because try as we might, getting enough steps in when you hold down a 9–5, particularly when it gets dark at 4pm and the weather is dreadful, is no mean feat. So why not repurpose some of that time you'd usually spend sitting with a stationary stroll?
FYI: The recommended daily step count is oft-debated, but when looking at mortality risk, for adults over the age of 60, the positive effect plateaus at around 6,000-8,000 steps per day, while for younger adults, it’s 8,000-10,000.
Why is walking important for runners?
Even if you're clocking up plenty of miles running per week, you should still make time for walking. As mentioned, walking at your desk can break up long periods of sitting without hugely impacting productivity — I'd like to see you run while successfully hosting a Zoom meeting — but there are plenty of other reasons walking can benefit runners.
Alongside the well-known perks of boosted stamina, extra calorie burn and improved heart health, for runners in particular, walking can build your endurance, give your joints and muscles a well-earned break, as well as help you make adaptations to your form and gait, while strengthening your feet, knees and hips. Not to mention the myriad benefits for your brain, too.
I've been taken in by the 10,000 steps a day rhetoric, but set that as my minimum, rather than my goal. I've been doing this for years and find it just makes me feel better, sleep better, think better — I could go on. But when dark streets make my usual walking commute less than appealing, I usually find it difficult to maintain this level — that is, until a few months ago, when I took delivery of the WalkingPad A1 Pro.
A1 Pro
WalkingPad A1 Pro: Set up
Be warned that the WalkingPad A1 Pro arrives in a huge, and very heavy, box. A sole delivery man managed to bring it up two flights of stairs to my flat, but I really struggled to lift it, so bear that in mind when moving it to your desired room.
In the box you get the following:
The WalkingPad A1 Pro (folded)
Power cord
User instructions
Remote control
Battery for the remote
Wrist loop for the remote
Allen key
Silicone lubricant
Everything comes well-packaged and protected, and once out the box the walking pad is easy to manoeuvre thanks to integrated wheels on the front — simply lift the back off the floor (when the pad is folded) and roll it across the floor.
Before plugging it in, the instructions advise you unfold the walking pad on flat, stable ground, as you'd expect. I've been using it on a flat weave rug on a wooden floor and that's worked well, but any surface other than thick, shag carpet should be fine. Unfolding it initially feels odd and like you might break it, particularly as when you press it down completely flat you're met with a little resistance, but trust the process. It's simple, takes just a few seconds and you get used to it quickly.
Once it's flat, you can adjust the belt to ensure it's centred, then connect the power and switch it on. To unlock the walking pad's full functions (different speeds and modes), you either need to walk 1km on it then reboot it, or download the associated app and complete the 'novice guide.' I chose the former, and having used the pad for months without the app, I don't think it's necessary.
Once you're done, simply switch the walking pad off, unplug it, and fold it back in half for storage.
WalkingPad A1 Pro: Design and features
What sets the WalkingPad A1 Pro apart from other models is the fold-away design. Whether you're traipsing the track while you catch up on the latest Netflix series or walking your way through work meetings, you can tuck it under a sofa or desk out of sight at the end of the day. This is particularly excellent for use under a desk in tight spaces, as you're not left with a length of track sticking out into your room.
When folded, the height of the walking pad is the same as when unfolded — 13cm — which unfortunately was too big to fit under my sagging sofa, but should fit under most furniture.
On the the features front, the WalkingPad A1 Pro comes with an impressive list for something as seemingly simple as a walking pad.
WalkingPad A1 Pro features:
Folding design
Manual and auto speed modes
12 speeds
Data display cycles between distance, speed, time elapsed and step count
Wheels for easy manoeuvring
Remote control
Foot pads on the base to protect your floor
Child lock
Sleep mode (prevents the walking pad being accidentally triggered when left out)
Shock-absorbing and anti-static
Quiet motor (max 75dB at full speed)
The data display is excellent, cycling between distance, speed, time elapsed and step count as you walk, so if you've got a target in mind it's easy to track your progress. I've measured the step count against both manual counting and other fitness trackers, and it's spot-on.
The remote control is light, small enough to slip into any pocket (but comes with a wrist loop if you prefer) and intuitive, with plus and minus buttons to adjust your speed, a start/stop button and a mode switch button.
Speaking of different modes, on the WalkingPad A1 Pro you can choose between manual — where you set and adjust the speed using the remote — or automatic. The auto mode adjusts the belt speed according to your walking speed. Clever tech at play behind the scenes changes the speed based on the location of your footfall: the front is the acceleration zone, the middle steady and the back deceleration.
This feature takes a little practice, but once you're au fait is ideal for working, as you might naturally slow down or speed up depending on your concentration or the nature of the tasks you're completing.
WalkingPad A1 Pro: Performance
For the price, you'd expect quality performance from the WalkingPad A1 Pro, but it wouldn't surprise me if the folding element caused some to question the sturdiness of the product. Well, I'm happy to tell you that it delivers on both fronts, with a smooth ride and reassuringly solid, robust feeling underfoot.
Walking on this, even at high speeds, feels akin to any decent, mid-range treadmill. It's not thin or flimsy by any means, but of course you don't get the full, deep base you get with an expensive gym-quality treadmill. That said, the shock absorption is impressive. I pretty much only use this on the highest speed of 6km/hr and it's rare to feel any kind of jolt. On the rare occasion I have, I've not been wearing shoes and possibly not paying much attention to my gait, so I can hardly blame the pad for this.
The track feels large, and at 120cm is among the longest in the walking pad category, so it's great for those with long strides and you never feel in danger of slipping off the end of the belt. It can squeak a little underfoot if you use it barefoot — I've found wearing running shoes or just socks is better, and the anti-static tech seems to work as I've never had a shock while using the walking pad.
The automatic mode also performs really well, slowing and speeding up with my footfall depending on which section of the belt I walk on. This did take a little time to get used to and I would warn that it's not the most responsive, so don't switch between speeds super quickly as you may hit the end of the belt.
After months of use, this hasn't marked my floor, and while it does get a bit hot over time it's never overheated — and I've walked on it for an hour at high speeds. It's also not really noisy but definitely not quiet. If you're watching TV you have to turn it up quite a bit or give in to using noise-cancelling headphones, and I can imagine it proving a challenge if using it during a work call — but walking slowly would probably counter this. Let's just say I've yet to have any complaints from my downstairs neighbours!
The belt does often need re-centring, which you'd expect given it goes slack when you fold the pad in half, and this is a simple fix with your hands. If the belt sliding to one side is a persistent problem, you can use the allen key provided to tighten the belt. And bear in mind the edges of the belt do pick up dust and fluff, but this comes away easily with a microfibre cloth.
A1 Pro
WalkingPad A1 Pro: RW Verdict
I've surprised myself by how much I've used the WalkingPad A1 Pro. It's cut my at-home sedentary time in half and I feel so much more energised this winter as a result.
If you’ve not completed your step goal at the end of the day, with the A1 Pro you can get in them in at home while bingeing your fave box set, and it's great for use while on work calls or completing menial tasks — particularly while using the automatic mode. Personally, I don't find I can concentrate on tricker projects while using it, but perhaps that will come with time.
Pros
Accurate step count
Folds away for easy storage
Feels sturdy
Smooth performance
Long track
Really simple to use
Automatic mode is excellent
Cons
Not the quietest
Depending on your furniture, it might not fit underneath
You do have to re-centre the belt every now and then
It's hard to fault the performance and this has been a genuine hit in my house — my partner marches on it to release pent-up energy while watching his football team inevitably lose, and rarely a day goes by where it doesn't get some use.
I only wish my living room furniture allowed for storage of the walking pad underneath. While it's not an eyesore by any stretch, it's not exactly aesthetic either, so check the dimensions pre-purchase.
Alternatives to the WalkingPad A1 Pro
Maybe you're not fussed about fold-away features, want something you can balance a laptop on, or are after something on the cheaper side? We also rate these RW-reviewed walking pads:
MoveLight Walking Treadmill
Walking Pad 2.5HP
2-in-1 Walking Pad and Treadmill
You Might Also Like
